Re: Rambling thoughts on panic

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this -- really true and helpful :)Barbara

 

I don't believe I have ever had an actual panic attack from the fear or anxiety of having one...I have had a lot of anxiety and fear about having one, but I've only had a couple of actual full-blown panic attacks in my life, which totally came without notice in the moment... " a sudden episode of intense fear " ...the rest has been anxiety and fear about having one...

Using percentages, thinking that I will have a panic attack and actually have one, are probably a million to 1

Trying to control my thoughts and feelings out of fear of having one from them, getting really anxious about having one, yet never having one from those feelings themselves

The symptom is not the cause

If I can't control having one, or not having one...what's the point of worrying about having one, or worrying about worrying about having one if it's not going to lead to one

At most, I will experience anxiety/fear which I have been successfully experiencing (therefore handling) for a good 10 years now...and when I have had an actual panic attack, I have handled those too, as I am here still breathing...

Seems like a big mental house of cards

And why would I want to stop the ability to have a panic attack, produce fear, or have anxiety...they are all natural biological responses to a perceived danger...they are meant to help you

We know they don't kill you, make or mean you are going crazy, nor does it mean something is " wrong " with you...something would be wrong if you didn't have that ability...so something is very " right " with you, including the rest of the list we take for granted

" Control " and lack of trust, I think is the main issue...the belief that one needs to control it, because if they don't...for me, it was, immediately " death " , " going crazy " , " will lose control " ...first 2 being untrue as stated above, 3rd assumes you " need " to control it, and that it is permanent (we know actual panic attacks are brief in nature)

The truth is, I don't " need " to control it, because i can't, nor do I need to because it's not dangerous...just like I can't control the sun coming up...and thank God!

Learning to trust the universe, including others, knowing that everything happens " for you " , not " to you "

-- Barbara White, MFTMarriage and Family Therapistbarbarawhitetherapy.com